Finishes and parge coats are used both to provide a vapor barrier coating for EPS foam, as well as improve the appearance of your exposed above-grade foundation wall.
As is common in conventional construction methods, the purpose of the parge coat is to provide a smooth finish to the band of foundation wall surface that is typically exposed between the final grade of a building and its intended above-grade finish material. This is especially true in more northerly climates where, because of snow and frost penetration in ground, building codes require a definite separation of the grade from the above-grade installed finish.
